[GK] NSG -NPT - Australia Group - etc...

Grouping	Objectives & Features	India’s Position
NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group)	Group of Nuclear Supplier countries based on Non – Proliferation Principle	Applied for membership in May 2016 [India is not a signatory in NPT (Non – Proliferation Treaty]
	Mandate is to regulate nuclear exports and nuclear related exports	Sought exemption from NPT on grounds of clean track – record
	Set up in 1974 as a response to India’s Nuclear Test	India’s pledge of “no-first-use” policy will help in getting membership
	Being a signatory of NPT is an important criteria to join the elite club	Got support from all major members; China poses hurdle
	Has 48 members including P5 of the UNSC	Membership helps in lucrative global nuclear trade
		Will get access to sensitive nuclear material & technologies
		Big boost to domestic industries & clean energy initiatives
MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime)	An informal and voluntary partnership among 35 countries	Applied for membership but denied membership in October 2015
	Set up in 1987 by the G7 countries	Major countries supported but Italy was reluctant (“due to rift on Marine case”)
	Aims to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology	Membership helps India in curbing global missile non-proliferation threat
	Focus on those that carry minimum payload of 500 kg & minimum of 300 km	More of strategic concern and no additional benefit in terms of trade
	Not a treaty and does not impose legally binding obligations on member	Because the group has no restrictions on trade with non-members
	Has 34 members & China is not a member	India became 35th member of MTCR on June 27, 2016
Wassenaar Arrangement	Set up in 1995 in Wassenaar (the Netherlands) & operation in 1996	Interested in joining this export control regime
	Focus is on conventional arms & dual-use goods and technologies	Meets 3 of the four conditions needed to join
	Seeks to achieve peace and security through export controls	They are – Producer of arms; Adherence to non-proliferation policies
	Has a 4-point criterion for membership	Third - Fully effective export controls (announced a list of 16 in August 2015)
	41 members including the USA and Russia	Fourth - Yet to comply with SCOMET list criteria
		Benefits – participation in trade and Play key role in deciding export regulations
		India became 42nd member of Wassenaar Arrangement on Dec 07, 2017
Australia Group	Informal group set up in 1985	Willing to join the group with the USA’s backing
	As a response to Iraq’s use of chemical weapons in 1984	Ratified the CWC and set up a national authority in 2000
	To control the export of chemical and biological weapons	With membership, gets a chance in deciding export items list
	Key role in the conclusion of Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) of 1997	India admitted as 43rd country on Jan 19,2018
NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty)	To prevent the spread of nuclear weapons & weapons technology	Unwilling to sign the treaty as it is biased towards NWS
	Binding treaty and came into force in 1970 for 25 years	NPT discriminatory because it enables development of weapons only by NWS
	In 1995 extended indefinitely; Joined by 195 parties so far	India, Israel and Pakistan are the major non-signatories
	Two categories Nuclear Weapon States (NWS), which are also P5, & Non-NWS	Signing of NPT is crucial as it linked to membership in other control regimes
	NWS are those that conducted tests before 1 January 1967